2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Some people get all twisted like a pretzel when giving money and life become the topic. Some churches teach tithing, i.e. giving ten percent of your income to the local body. Some say ten percent of gross income, some net income. But I think Paul teaches an even greater principle in this passage. He is encouraging these believers to be systematic in their giving, not haphazard. Week by week they were to give toward a larger goal. Their giving was in proportion to their making. One of the principles of the early church was that when there was a need, people reached out and met that need. There was a sense that people were connected, that when someone was suffering, everyone was suffering. Here I go! If you make a lot of money you should be giving a lot of money. As our income increases, our percentage of giving should likewise increase. A tithe is nothing to a multi-millionaire. They can give ten percent without it affecting their lifestyle one little bit. Perhaps they will have to purchase one less Bentley this year. What a sacrifice! So if you are a believer, you have the joy of greater giving as your getting increases. If there are needs that need to be met, meet them, and watch the blessing flow. Think about it, how much money does it take to live? Do I NEED a 52 inch HDTV? Do I NEED that indoor swimming pool, after all my tennis court will have to be moved further away from the house so that I can build that addition to hold the new entertainment studio where the indoor pool will go? As Jesus-followers, our priorities must be different. They must mirror the priorities of Jesus. He gave to death. Can we do any less? Pray about your giving. Has your income increased without an increase in the percentage of giving? Has your lifestyle increased without an increase in your giving? If so, reassess your priorities. The joy that will come in giving will far outpace the joy from that new toy.
The Arnold Journey 